Let's set off to discover the most impressive spiritual sites around Fukuoka.
Admire the majestic wooden Buddha at Tocho-ji Temple, the largest in Japan.
Discover Nanzoin Temple, hidden in the mountains, and its unique atmosphere. This sacred site is home to a treasure: the spectacular and colossal reclining bronze Buddha statue, the largest in the world, as tall as the Statue of Liberty in New York, weighing 300 tons, and depicting the Buddha entering Nirvana. This statue houses the ashes of the Buddha and two of his disciples,
Ananda and Maudgalyayana.
We shouldn't miss the opportunity to go inside the statue and write a wish on a small wooden plaque, which is then burned.
You can approach the statue while holding the colored cords attached to the Buddha's hand, which represent the five colors of light seen by the Buddha during his enlightenment. This gesture allows you to establish a spiritual connection and receive the blessings of the Buddha himself.
The temple also houses the statue of Fudo Myo Acalanatha, a fierce deity who protects against evil spirits, as well as more than 500 statues of Buddha's disciples, each with unique expressions and postures.
And, curiously, it is also home to a small Inari shrine, with foxes dedicated to the Shinto god of rice and prosperity.
This temple, a key stop on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage, which is over 44 km long, offers a unique blend of spiritual atmosphere, stunning natural surroundings and remarkable Buddhist art.
We will continue our tour to the very large shrine of Dazaifu Tenmangu, a major Shinto site dedicated to the deity of learning and the arts.
Famous for its plum trees and its magnificent red Taiko-bashi Bridge, divided into three parts representing the past, present and future.
In the typical pedestrian street leading to the shrine, be sure to try the local specialty, Umegaemochi, a grilled rice cake with red bean paste, and to visit the traditional shops. Lunch on site.